• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.3-9
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• 2007

Based on the broad and in-depth literature review, the dedicated members of the committee for the development of Korean attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) practice parameter develop the Korean practice parameter for ADHD. Members of the Korean Academy of child and Adolescent Psychiatry (KACAP) had reviewed the drafts through off-line and on-line access to the drafts. Feedbacks from the members of KACAP were carefully integrated into the current practice parameter. This article presents the state of the art knowledge regarding the assessment and the management of ADHD. Recommendations in the end of the practice parameter may help clinician to make decisions in clinical practice, but are not likely to override the clinician's decision in natural settings. Future directions to complement the limitation of the current practice parameter is suggested.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 2009

Objectives : This preliminary study evaluated the efficacy of two short-term programs for reducing depressive symptoms in female adolescents with depressive disorder. Methods : The participants were 23 middle school students who were randomly assigned to three groups : the cognitive-behavioral program group, the psycho education-program group and the no-intervention control group. Results : At postintervention, the students in cognitive-behavioral program group reported significantly lower levels of depressive symptoms, negative self-statement, automatic thought and psychiatric symptoms than did those in the no-intervention group and those in the psychoeducation-program group. Conclusion : The results suggest that the cognitive-behavioral program for female adolescent with depressive disorder was more effective in reducing depressive symptoms than the psychoeducation-program.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2001

The authors, in this paper, addressed a variety of problems and difficulties which Korean psychiatrists should cope with. The surprising development of neurosciences, splitting of neuropsychiatry into neurology and psychiatry, easygoing attitude of psychiatrists, changes in the delivery system of health care and ill-balanced education of psychiatry were listed as causes of or contributors to them. Social bias to psychiatry and regulations from outside are also considered as contributors. Psychiatric education, including medical school, residency training, continuing medical education and psychiatric textbooks, need to be changed in order to enlarge the boundary of psychiatry. Reestablishment of identity of psychiatry and psychiatrist is unavoidable, considering far-reaching new knowledge of neuroscience and gradually invisible borderzone between neurology and psychiatry. The other ways worth while to consider are : the expansion of psychiatrists' activities, development of medical behavioral science to a clinical specialty, creation of new psychiatric subspecialties, and additional training of psychiatric residencies in the primary medical care.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.112-119
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• 2008

Objectives : This study was conducted to examine whether there are qualitative differences in attention problem among children with various psychiatric disorders, including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and tic disorder using clinical ADHD diagnostic system (ADS) T-scores. Methods : The subjects were 794 outpatient children aged from 5 to 15 years, including 540 children with ADHD, 95 children with depressive disorder, 86 children with anxiety disorder, and 73 children with tic disorder. Clinical T-scores on the ADS were calculated using the mean and standard deviations of four ADS variables for the ADHD group. Results : All four groups had T-scores on the ADS in the abnormal range. However, when comparing the clinical T-scores, the children with depressive and anxiety disorders performed better than the children with ADHD. We also found that although the four groups seemed to be similar in terms of clinical T-scores for omission and commission errors, there were significant differences in clinical T-scores for reaction time and the standard deviation of response time (RT) between the ADHD and other groups. Conclusions : We concluded that inattention and impulsivity might not be specific only to ADHD and that the clinical T-scores of RT and standard deviation of RT on the ADS could be used to discriminate between ADHD and other clinical groups.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.116-120
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• 2019

Objectives: This study was conducted to re-validate the clinical efficacy of the Korean Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Rating Scale (K-AARS), which is a self-report scale for ADHD in adults, and to determine the clinical utility and cut-off scores of K-AARS. Methods: The participants were 135 drug naïve adults with ADHD and 144 healthy controls. To diagnose ADHD based on the diagnostic criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition, two board-certified pediatric psychiatrists interviewed the participants and completed the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. K-AARS was applied to all participants. K-AARS comprises six clinical subscales, one impairment subscale, and one driving behavior subscale. The receiver operating characteristic analysis was conducted to calculate the cut-off scores of K-AARS. Results: All subscale scores, including six clinical subscale, impairment subscale, and driving behavior subscale scores, were found to be significant in distinguishing adults with ADHD from healthy controls. The sensitivity and specificity of the six clinical subscales were 63.0-77.0% and 66.7-79.9%, respectively. The combined total score of the six clinical subscales, had a sensitivity of 80.0% and specificity of 79.9%. Conclusion: The discriminative power of K-AARS for the diagnosis of ADHD in adults was excellent, and K-AARS and the empirical diagnosis of adults can be useful in diagnosing ADHD in adulthood.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.152-158
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• 2023

Objectives: This study examined the associations between Internet addiction and suicide and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among South Korean adolescents. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 1694 Korean adolescents. The suicidal Ideation Questionnaire and Deliberate Self-Harm Inventories were used to identify high-risk suicide and NSSI groups, respectively. Internet addiction was assessed using the Internet Addiction Scale. Other questionnaires included sociodemographic data, perceived academic stress, and daily life-related factors. We also performed a logistic regression analysis using the high suicide risk and NSSI groups as dependent variables. Results: The high suicide risk and NSSI prevalence rates among participants were 11.8% and 28.3%, respectively. A multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that Internet addiction is associated with higher suicide risk and NSSI. Additionally, being female and academic stress were significant suicide risk factors, while male participants had a higher NSSI prevalence. Conclusion: Our results suggest that monitoring adolescents' Internet use and providing education to prevent Internet addiction would lower high suicide and NSSI risk. Moreover, suicide and NSSI risk screening in adolescents with Internet addiction and providing suitable interventions will be essential for the preventing suicide and NSSI.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.242-249
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• 2023

Objectives: Following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, adolescents have experienced decreased physical activity and a decline in mental health. This study analyzed the association between changes in depressed mood after the COVID-19 pandemic and physical activity among adolescents. Methods: The analysis was based on the results of the 17th Youth Health Behavior Online Survey conducted in 2021, which included 54848 middle and high school students in South Korea. Information on physical activity included low-intensity physical activity lasting >60 min/day, high-intensity physical activity, and strength training exercises. A logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between physical activity and changes in depression after the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and previous depression, adolescents who performed strength training exercises more than once per week had a 0.95-fold lower risk (odds ratio [OR]=0.948, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.905-0.994, p=0.027) of increasing depression after the COVID-19 pandemic, while the risk of decreasing depression increased by 1.22-fold (OR=1.215, 95% CI=1.131-1.305, p<0.001). The results were not significant for low-intensity physical activity for >60 min/day and high-intensity physical activity. Conclusion: Strength-training exercises are significantly associated with the prevention of depression among adolescents following the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.3-12
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• 2013

Most preschool children in Korea attend kindergarten (KG) or a child care center (CCC). CCCs, which focus on caring for the child, belong to the ministry of health and welfare. On the other hand, KGs are responsible for education, and belong to the ministry of education, science and technology. In order to resolve the decline in population due to low birthrates, the government is expanding the free child care and education policies. CCCs and KGs are combined together to form the 'NURI curriculum' and supporting funds have been increased in both governmental departments. In addition, economic support is provided for homeschooling households. Because this is a nationwide policy and applies to every single household, thorough preparation regarding the effect and side effects must be made. This policy is currently being implemented, and as child and adolescent psychiatrists, great consideration should be given to the influence on the population. Therefore, the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry intends to investigate the effects and problems of the nationwide policy by analyzing the current condition of Korea's free child care and education and foreign policies. In the current paper, we reviewed the developmental process of Korea's free child care and education policy, as well as suggested future directions.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.46-57
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• 2017

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common psychiatric disorder that can affect individuals across their lifespan. It is characterized by the core symptoms of inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. ADHD develops as a result of the complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. Children and adults with ADHD usually suffer concomitantly from other psychiatric comorbidities, including both externalizing and internalizing disorders. It is associated with functional impairment and poor long-term outcomes. This review aims to summarize the key findings from recent research into ADHD and its prevalence, core symptoms, cause and comorbidities from childhood to adulthood.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.113-120
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• 2014

This is an analysis report of the "Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (KACAP), Vision 2033 Survey". The survey questionnaires were developed by the planning department of KACAP and sent to KACAP members from 2012 to 2013. This survey consisted of six categories : membership, academic activity, journal publication, administrative system, fellowship training program, and future planning. The response rate was 40.5%. In addition to multiple choice questions, responders also described their own ideas and suggestions regarding KACAP. The results of this study can be used as evidence for planning the vision 2033 of KACAP.